THE formal opening of a prestigious new civic complex could be overshadowed by an embarrassing row over who should perform the ceremony.

Staff are due to start moving into Denbighshire County Council's new HQ in Ruthin next week.

The £12m development, on the site of the old Market Street offices, has been funded through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

A member of the Royal family was invited to open the complex, but it is understood no-one was available because organisers had not given enough notice.

Chief executive Ian Miller then wrote to councillors asking for suggestions as to who should perform the ceremony. The result was three notices of motion which will be discussed at next week's council meeting.

Independent members David Morris and Neville Hugh Jones have proposed current council chairman Tom Parry who, like them, represents Prestatyn.

But the independent group has proposed Coun Rhys Webb, of Carrog, chairman of the PFI committee . Neither Mr Parry nor Mr Webb intend standing for re-election to the council next month.

The third name, put forward by Coun Glyn Williams on behalf of the Labour Group, is that of the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, Trevor Jones.

Mr Morris said he was una-ware his independent group would be discussing the matter.

"We were led to believe that the official opening would be imminent and so felt it appropriate that it should be performed by the council chair-man," he said.

"We know Tom Parry will not be a member of the council by then so perhaps it should be left to whoever is chairman at that time," he added.

Coun Ken Hawkins, secretary of the independent group, said Rhys Webb had done a tremendous amount of work on the PFI scheme which deserved recognition.

"We were told there was a bit of an early deadline," he added.

But Glyn Williams said he felt it would be wrong for someone who was no longer a member of the authority to perform the opening.

"The Lord Lieutenant is an obvious candidate. He was raised in Rhyl and earned respect for his work at Pilkingtons and the CBI," he said.